Describing the saffron party's victory in the Shahdol Lok Sabha and Nepanagar Assembly seats as "unprecedented", he said the Opposition Congress tried very hard to snatch the two constituencies but failed to do so, thanks to support the ruling party got from the voters.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narendra Modi. AFP file image

"I consider this victory as unprecedented, as Congress was confident of wresting these two seats from BJP and they tried all tricks in their armoury to achieve their goal," an elated Chouhan told reporters at the state BJP headquarters, where party workers were also present.

"The victory shows people have full faith in Modiji's policies and therefore they have voted for his development initiatives," he said. "I dedicate this victory to the party workers, the people of Nepanagar and Shahdol and to Modiji."

Chouhan said the party will not celebrate the victory in a traditional manner, since former Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav passed away in Lucknow. Instead, party leaders and workers will garland statues of BJP leaders, like Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Kushabhau Thakre and Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia.

State BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan and public relations minister Narottam Mishra, among others, were present at the occasion.

The Shahdol and Nepanagar bypolls were seen as the first electoral test for BJP after the demonetisation of high values notes announced by Modi on 8 November. Chouhan, however, made no mention about the anti-black money measures while interacting with the media.